Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PLC3710

 
TITLE Spiritual, Moral and Religious Education During Early Childhood

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 3

 
DEPARTMENT Pastoral Theology, Liturgy and Canon Law

 
DESCRIPTION Spirituality is an intrinsic part of human life. Due to its pervasive nature, it is experienced and expressed in and through diverse ways. So, while religion may be considered by the majority as the preferred way to access and to express this fundamental human dimension, it is undeniable that spirituality is also expressed through a variety of disciplines and human activities amongst which the arts, philosophy and even scientific enquiry.

This study-unit will encourage students to reflect on the definition of spirituality and on its relationship with religion and morality. The study-unit will tackle the role of religion in general and the resurgence of spirituality in contemporary society. It will also present the current theories on children's spirituality and children's religious and moral development.

The second part of the unit will present spiritual, moral and religious education as essential components of holistic education. Student will be equipped with the skills and attitudes that should help them facilitate and foster children's spiritual, moral and religious dimensions.

Study-unit Aims:

Prospective Early Childhood educators will be encouraged to continue to reflect on the centrality of spiritual, religious and moral formation in the holistic development of children. It also aims at equipping further educators with those skills necessary to enhance children's spiritual, religious and moral dimension. In particular they will reflect on how the Christian narrative may be tapped as an adequate resource for children's holistic development.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- discuss the relationship between morality, religion and spirituality;
- list and explain the developmental stages of faith and moral development;
- identify the main elements of (a) spiritual education (b) religious literacy (c) virtues education;
- find, analyse and use adequate techniques and resources that foster children's spiritual, religious and moral formation.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- plan and develop suitable interventions to enhance the spiritual, religious and moral development of the child;
- use different story telling methods including Godly play and the Good Shepherd method;
- deal with religious/belief differences in the classroom.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text:

- Berryman, J. W. (2012). The complete guide to Godly play. Morehouse Education Resources.
- Cavalett Sophia, and Coulter Patricia. 2007. The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children, Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications.
- Hay, D., & Nye, R. (2006). The spirit of the child. Jessica Kingsley Pub.

Supplementary Text:

- Buchanan, M. T., & Hyde, B. (2008). Learning beyond the surface: Engaging the cognitive, affective and spiritual dimensions within the curriculum. International Journal of Children's Spirituality, 13(4), 309-320.
- Gellel, A. “An inter-religious basis for denominational religious education: A paradox.” In International handbook of inter-religious education edited by K. Engebretson, M. De Souza, G. Durka & L. Gearon (441-456). Netherlands: Springer 2010.
- Roehlkepartain, Eugene, Ebstyne King Pamela, Wagener, Linda and Benson Peter (eds.). 2005. The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescence, USA: Sage.
- Watson, Jacqueline, De Souza, Marian, Trousdale, Ann (Eds.) 2013, Global Perspectives on Spirituality and Education, London: Routledge.
- Yust Karen-Marie, Aostre N. Johnson, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, 2006. Religious Perspectives on Spirituality in Childhood and Adolescence, USA: Rowman & Littlefield.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Fieldwork and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Adrian Mario Gellel

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit